Chemical gun trap



. 6, 1953 H. R. GRAYBILI.

CHEMICAL GUN TRAP Original Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet l caw INVHVTOR.

ATTOIPNEY H. R. GRAYBILL CHEMICAL GUN TRAP Original Filed Dec. 21, 1944 Patented Oct 6, 1953 CHEMICAL GUN TRAP Hershey Roy Grayhill, Manheim, Pa., assignor to Animal Trap Company of America, Littz, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application December 21, 1944, Serial No. 569,141. Divided and this application January 8, 1949, Serial No. 69,909

Claims.

The present invention relates to gun traps intended primarily for use with chemical cartridges for control of predatory animals and particularly to means for anchoring such traps.

The specific gun trap shown in Figures 1 to 5 is not claimed herein as it forms the subject matter of my co-pending application filed December 2l, 1944, Serial No. 569,141, now Patent No. 2,515,447, of which the present applicatien is a division.

`As coyotes, wolves and other predatory animals are instinctively wary and dicult to catch, ordinary jaw type traps have been found unsatisfactory in controlling them. Chemical gun traps have proved much'. more effective. Because of their small size, chemical gun traps are easier to conceal, the trap being substantially buried in the ground, so that the only part visible is the bait, lure or other material used to attract the predator. The trap is provided with means for holding a cartridge containing the poison or other chemicals, with anchoring means and with firing mechanism actuated by a pull on the bait to discharge the poison or chemical into the mouth of the animal springing the trap. By employing a fast acting poison, the animal is killed almost instantly.

However, the use of gun traps of this type creates a number of diiiicult problems. In order to be effective, the trap must be highly sensitive so that relatively little effort; 0r pull need be exerted by the predator to cause discharge of the cartridge. Moreover, in anchoring the trap, it is desirable to avoid substantial or unusual resistance to movement of the bait that would arouse the animals suspicions, as for example, when the predator nibbles at the bait or attempts to pull its sideways, which has been found to be the usual approach of such animals. While the trap must be highly sensitive, it must at the same time be safe so that it will not be accidentally discharged as a result of being trampled on by grazing cattle, sheep or horses, or struck or run over by a passing vehicle. Complete safety in anchoring, setting and servicing the trap is also imperative to avoid injury to the persons using them. These conflicting requirements of sensitivity and safety are made still more diicult to meet by the fact that the traps must operate under extremely adverse conditions, as they are ordinarily at least partially buried in the ground where they are subjected to the deleterious effect of dirt, water, snow, ice, etc., and frequently receive rough treatment, as for example, when being driven into hard or frozen ground. Moreover, the traps must be suiiiciently inexpensive that a trapper can aiford to own and operate a large number of them, and must be sufliciently simple and foolproof that they can be used and serviced by persons of limited mechanical skill.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved gun trap fully overcoming the difliculties and problems encountered in the prior art, and to provide a trap that is inexpensive to manufacture and is of small size and light weight. A further object of my invention is to provide a trap that is anchored in such -a manner as to allow free movement of the gun through a wide angle, while at the same time providing a firm anchorage in any soil conditions. The freedom of movement of the trap avoids arousing the suspicion of an animal nibbling or pawing at the bait, and materially increases the effectiveness of the trap, since the gun will automatically position itself for the most effective firing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, several embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of a trap in accordance with my invention showing one form of anchor, certain interior parts of the mechanism being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section at right angles to Fig. 1, and showing the trap mechanism in set or cocked position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in the position they occupy after the trap has been sprung or discharged.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are elevations of further embodiments of my invention showing different forms of anchoring means.

In the drawings I have shown by way of example several embodiments selected to illustrate my invention. The trap shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a hollow cylindrical housing or socket member l, which is open at its upper end and is closed at its lower end. The closure for the lower end of the socket may, if desired, be removable, but is shown as being integral with the side walls and comprises an annular rim or seat portion Il, a converging or frusto-conical portion I2, and a neck or lug portion i3 having a hole therethrough and referred to herein as a swivel-eye. The inner surface of the socket l!! is substantially cylindrical, but it is provided near its upper end with an enlarged portion ift and an adjacent shoulder I5.

in the socket I0 there is provided a cylindrical body portion I5 which fits into the socket with sufficient clearance as to be freely slidable therein in a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical body portion IE is provided at its upper end with a cartridge holder, shown in the form of a cartridge chamber'. Iladapted to receive mdf-hold a cartridgeF I8 containing the poison or other chemical, and a propellent charge. The cartridge may, for example, be of the kind dei.

scribed and claimed in co-pending application..

Serial No. 548,956, I'lled August 11, 1944 by Richard H. Moen and myseliraseinventorsenow:

Patent No. 2,480,593. 'I'heucartridgeichamber 41:

is removably secured to the cylindricallbody por-i tion I 6, for example by interengaging threaded.A portions IB and 20, so thatzitwanireadilxy removed to remove the shell or base portiomodz:

a red cartridge, and insert a fresh one. The

outer surface of the cartridge chamber IT: is

shown provided with suitable means, such as a flange 2|,`- orretaining:theebait; luree'or other material used-itc attractitl'ie predatorforvwhich the-ltrapf isset; Tlieffmemberfthus serves both asa cartridge holder and as- :aubait'holder: The

cylindrical body portion I 6 isehollow: and contains a hollowa firing pini2-2; having cylindrical sidef Walls 23 and integrali end closures at its `vupper end.v 'Ilieilowerllend oifthe ring pin is-open. 'Ihe-end-fclosure foimingzzthefiup.-

ljindrical body I (ii-thef-lowerf-end" inthe fembodi 40 ment shownisfmadenremovabler tofprovide: for the insertionof :theeringepin andits;l actuating spring:

In'thefsetrpositionfof@the trap shown-in Fig. 2,

the-'firing pin is' releasablyrheld:irrcocked .'postionr 45 by -a trigger 3 I Wliiclizis actuated; byfmorernent of the cylindrical body I6 in the sockettIIIs-.to release the iiring-p-in;andntherebyzre fa cartridge heldfiin :the =.cartridge lrolderr' I 'LI The ztriggerrSI is shown in th'esformfoiifanaelorrgated Te-sharpedio member'andis disposedloosely inra longitudinal slot-3 2 in :theffside of :thezcylindrical .bodyf portion I6. The term slot isdxseek genericaily tov include a groove; slot crzotherxspace :for accommodating thef trigger 3 l Theetrigerrmember;;is-.pivotallycf 55 'with' afrecess v3;'l Inzthesetipositionzoffthe trap 1 (Figs. ljiand 2) v theheelf'portion 36V-of the-trigger engages the-side Wa'llgfof; the socketandffthereby holds the trigger'inaminner-position', in; which the cam detent portionfengagesftheupperend edge ofY the cup-shaped .'ring pin 22; to/hold'thee 70 firing 1 pint in cocked position against the( action of-its springfiZS; It'willi Athusabe -seen v.thatin the set position of :the trap', the -ringgpin ,isapositively held in-cockedposition, therebyguardiiigf against prematurefor accidental, discharge of.: thea car- #'75 4 tridgee. Whilefthie triggerrengagesrthe ring pin at1 oneesid` onlyvof itssperipheryi in :ther embodiment shown in the drawings, the engagement of the cylindrical side walls of the hollow Icupshapedlring pin, with the cylindrical side walls ofthe body portion IE, holds the firing pin in an upright positioniwitlixthe firing point 25 in proper aliggm'nent with-.the opening 25. Moreover, any tendencyrofithe-ring pin to tip would result in iitsbeingheld stills-more tightly and in movement ofgtlie upperlendiof the firing pin toward the triggersthatthe purchase of the cam detent portion 35 of the trigger on the firing pin is increased.

The trap is sprung by upward movement of the cylindrical 'bbdy; portion?, I In animiert-gto; removefthe-ebait,A` a: predatoifrwi-'lliexertfi an lupward Dull ontheccartridgef holder; lI 'I .tmwhiclfiz theitbait is attachedytherebgn causingthescartridge:holder rand the;connected cylindricalxbodyfportiongl Ei to movewupwardly-:inia .longitudinalzdirection relative toi thefsockiet. I 9. Whent the trigger '3l u car:- ried.by\the body portion Iireachesfa pointjwhere itsrnotch; oriredncedfportiorrl icorriesrinto alignment with the shoulder I5 of the socken-:ther pressufre exerted 4on thecarndatentportion` 35 ofl '-.the trigger bythe-,i drin-gepind which v isiurged upwardly by; thefspring-g,2.1i,`- causesey the trigger4 to befmoved laterally-about itsrpivot-iinf angoutwa-rd direction.

The lateral movementiof ,thai-trigger freleases Vthe firing pin, which is4 thereupon iforced irapidly' upwardly--byyfthe com-pressed: springE 28i Icausing-'the ilring.. ppintf: 2 5 to strike and'. discharge the cartridgeei 8,. propellingythe ehargefof :poison or other .chem-icaljintothe mouth offtheepredator tha-thas seized f the-bain7 Theeupward, movement or, the cylindrical body, with. respect towthersecketf is suitably` limite@ ,forrexample by af removable,set screw/1engagimgatshowlder4 I pn the cylindrical l IS; topreyent v.the.-latter'-beinggpulled `out of.: the'. socket;r 10cm; operation. of the-trap. Thefscylindrical bodyyl Ercan,- however, betremoved frome the socket i. fori-inspection 1 or cleaning; by backingupor'removinggthesetscrewfle It;.Wil1';b.e fseenitha-.tfwhen theiftrap :is .in lthe sprung-,f positionillustrated :ins-Iig.; 3 ,-f V the1 trigger 3-.I i isflreld ,ppsitivelyyiaan vouter position, lby engagement iotrthee noseffpprtion fiwithfthefcylindvrica'l sdefmallmfthe cumshaped ringupin.

or the socketlieseinthee-notched'ornrecessedfportionl31-of theflrir1g;V pin; whilea-the-gheel portion 36e lies` in thee enlargement .orr recess Mw of the socket. Engagement .ot-the. 4heel portion'. 36r with .thershoulder I5.,prevents downward tmovement of the` cylindrical body, andvhencerthe cartridge and bait? holder. I'I, relative :to the. socket,- `positively holdingK ,the cylindrical body. in itsouter position. The, relative position of l the cartridge chamber and the socket; which can at once be determined merelylbylookingzat the trap, provides a position indicationv that thering Apin is in itsreleased or firedposition:

To reset 'the trap'thering'pin is Ypusheclrlovvn against the -actionrofiitsspring'by' a vsuitable setting -tool adapted to-pass through the'opening 'I inthe upper` end 4`oli-the cylindrical body portion H5? During-:the: initial :portion of the movement, the.V cylindrical Abody portion -is held `in its outer positiorrbyl engagement of-the heel portion 3610i the. trigger; with the. ,f shoulder I 5f of the socket, the'rtrigger being' held in itsiouter position by engagement of thenose-portion 35? with the side wall -of the :cup-shaped#firingv pin.. When the ring;pingreachesiits.cockedrpositiont.the :trigger 3| swings inwardly so that the nose of the trigger moves in over the upper edge of the firing pin and the heel portion 36 rides over the shoulder I5 of the socket, permitting the cylindrical body to move downwardly into the socket. The cocking of the firing pin requires a substantial amount of pressure, and this pressure results in the cylindrical body Iii being moved directly to the fully set position illustrated in Fig. 2 immediately upon release of the cylindrical body portion for downward movement by the inward movement of the trigger. By thus avoiding any halfway or hairline setting, the safety of the trap is increased. Moreover it will be noted that the trigger is moved in both directions by cam action and that positive movement is thereby assured.

The socket member lil carrying the operating mechanism of the trap described above is held by a suitable anchor to restrain upward movement of the socket when the predator pulls upwardly on the bait. It is a feature of the present invention that the socket is anchored in a manner that allows free swivelling of the socket about its vertical center line and allows movement oi the socket in a wide angle in any direction from a vertical direction. Such movement may be the result oi' trampling by domestic animals or other causes, or may result from the predator pulling sideways on the bait. In the latter case the gun will automatically position itself for firing the charge of poison or other chemical into the mouth of the predator. In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the socket Il) is swivelly mounted on the upper end of a hollow anchor stake A2. The stake is shown pointed at its lower end 43 to facilitate driving the stake into the ground and is open at its upper end. The socket member IB is seated on the upper end edge di of the hollow anchor stake and is pivotally connested to the stake by an internal flexible member extending between the swivel eye I3 of the socket and a portion of the stake. In the particular construction shown by way of example in the drawings, the exible member is in the form of a tension spring 4-5 attached it its upper end to the swivel eye I3 of the socket member and at its lower end to a pin 45 extending transversely of the hollow stake. It will be seen that this mounting permits the socket freely to turn or tip in any direction through a wide angle. While a wide angle of tilt is desirable, the angle is limited by engagement of the lug portion I 3 with the `wall of the stake 42 to prevent the trap being trampled down into the ground. Moreover, the iiexible connecting means which causes the trap to return to the correct ring position after being trampled or otherwise disturbed cannot be deformed or distorted as a result of such disturbance, and is completely enclosed and protected so that foreign matter such as grass, twigs, pebbles, etc., cannot become wedged between the spring coils. A gasket 41 can, if desired, be provided between the anchor stake 42 and the socket member to provide a further seal against entry ci water or other material into the hollow stake.

A feature of the invention is that although the socket or housing member ID is flexibly and swivelly mounted on the anchor stake, a solid connection is nevertheless provided for transmitting downwardly directed force directly from the socket to the stake. As the seating rim II of the socket seats directly on the upper edge of the stake, the socket is held solidly when the trap is being reset by pushing downwardly on the iiring pin as described above. Moreover,

any force applied to the socket to drive or push the stake into the ground is transmitted directly from the socket to the stake rather than through the flexible connecting means.

In some instances, for example in trapping animals that are particularly wary and diflicult to catch, it may be undesirable for the socket to snap back to a Vertical position too quickly when it has been tipped over by an animal nibbling or pawing the bait, as this might excite the animals suspicion. With the trap of the present invention, the force tending to restore the socket to its vertical position can be readily controlled by the tension of the exible connecting member 45 and the shape of the interengaging portions of the socket member and the upper end of the anchor stake. For example, if the lower end of the socket is made semispherical to provide a ball and socket joint, the socket will tend to remain in the position to which it has been tipped.

In Fig. 1 there is shown another form of anchor means in accordance with my invention. The operating mechanism of the trap, including the housing or socket member, may be substantially the same as in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and like parts are accordingly designated by the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the anchor comprises a stake 50 which may conveniently be formed o' a straight piece of bar or strip stock, sharpened or pointed at its lower end 5I to facilitate driving the stake into the ground. A bracket 52 having a hole or opening 53 projects laterally from the body portion of the stake, and may be formed integrally therewith, or may be made as a separate member welded, bolted, riveted, or otherwise secured to the vertical stake member. The upper end 5d of the vertical stake extends above the bracket 52 to form a driving head. The provision of a suitable driving head on the stake is of particular importance when the anchor is driven into frozen or hard ground. While the depth the anchor stake is driven into the ground may be varied as desired, the ground line has been illustrated by way of example at G.

The hole 53 in the laterally projecting bracket 52 is shown as being tapered, and is adapted to receive the swivel eye or lug I3 of the socket member I 0, the lug being retained in the hole 53 by means of a transverse pin or cctter key 55 passing through the hole in the lug. As will be seen from the drawing the bracket is so shaped and formed that it supports the socket member of the trap in a manner that allows free swivelling of the socket around its vertical center line, and allows movement of the body or socket in any direction from the vertical position, as indicated by the dotted outline. The angle of tilt is limited by the engagement of the lower end portions of the socket I0 with the portions of the bracket 52 surrounding the hole 53, the angle being determined by the relative dimensions or these parts. When the body portion of the trap is tipped over, for example by an animal pulling sideways on the bait, it tends to remain in tipped position and hence does not arouse suspicion of the animal. As the trap is tipped in the direction of the pull, it is automatically positioned to re the poison or other chemical directly toward the animal, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the trap.

In Fig. 5 there is shown another form of anchor which accomplishes the same results as described above, and which may be preferred by trappers who Wish the entire device to be below ground level, or Whereztheasoil. isrof l such character that the anchor: must: beiA buried af considerable distance -in;order:rto provide satisfactory; anchor:- ing. In this formfoflily-invention,l theanchor stake@ isY formed: ofaaY piecev of. strip;bar,,rod or-tube stock,.pointed at itslowerzendrffl to facilitate drivingi the stake; into. :thef ground and pro-tvidedwith oneorf morerholes E2, .63: The-gun trap bodyfor-socl-:etmember I0,v is` attached to the.-anchcr.by flexible connecting means, forexample avvire.-loopgrlwpassingthrough theaholefin thea-swivelv eye ISL-.of the ysocket. member; l yand through oneY of i the; holesr. 62; 63; of f the; anchor stake;y It Will.:be.obvionsthat thestakeor `anchor may; be.J placed in` the: ground.- vertically,", horizontally, ,or in -.any other. positionthat may lseem desirable under the-:existing conditions or locationzin Whiclrthe. trap; is-I set; For example, in Fig, 6..'the stake .t8 is' buriecl inthe: ground :in .a substantially horizontal position,- andth'e-socket member I il is wvivelly,` connected ;to: the central portionfof l the; stake, for;A example.v bya :wire loop 64,.` or other 'iiexible member: extendingr between the `swivel ieye (3- ofthe socket' member andthe hole 63 -in theaanchor stake. Alternatively, the stake. E0 may be-'drivenvinto-.thef ground atany desired angle :to the-vertical.

It` will `loe understood that the various features of :theseveral embodimentsoi myt invention illustrated -in the drawings arefinterchangeable with one-another and may.be-combined-in diierent ways.'Y For' example; a'flexible: connecting` means between` the-socket' andthe anchor is equally appl-icable-Withthe form of anchorage described inconnection with Fig.v 4.-.. Likewise; .inthe'V embodiment illustrated-in-1Fig: 4, resilient means mayy if desired; be interposed 'between ,the socket member IE and the'anchorage to'return the socket to anv approximatelyvertical. position, after any tipping or sidewise displacement of thesoel-et:- ForA example, aspringg.asoftrubber washer; or other resilient member may be interposed between the laterallyprojecting bracks et 520i-the anchor-.stake 58-andfthe^seating rim I|.0f the socket; Still othercombinations and embodimentsv of -the featuresof my inventiorrvvill be? readily apparent without# being specica'lly mentioned.

What I,v claimfand desire toseeureV by Letters Patent is:v

l. In a gunl trap` for predators 'of the@ type adapted to` beanchored in :the ground in -a sub'- stantially; vertical.; position and' toi befseized- .by theimou-th of Athe predator; thezoombination :of an anchors member adaptedtoibe at. leastv partly buried vin the ground; said anchor :member: comprisingfa hollow stakeopen at`its;upper'end,z a downwardly-extending cylindrical casing` member-adapted @supporta-cartridge and baitholder, the downwardly-extending end-portionof said casing` member beingY of Aaconical configuration with anzeye therethrough andz'being-received vin said open end Aof :sa-id stake-.andinternal exible means in fsaid casingV tornen-,rigidly-*connecting said` casing with said anchor'- in.4v a. universal swivel relationshipfwhereby Ato permit said .casing to rbe; tipped by tlieapredatoi-'gto :aV limited f extent inany direction.

2.l In a gun trap as-defined 'in claim 1, asealing ring adapted vto provide asubstantially dirtand Waterproof seal between; said stake. and; said casing member.A

3i.v In a. gunz. trap.v for predators; of theiftype adapted to be `ancho-red.` ingthegroundjn .aisubtstantially; vertical.` position and:V to;- be i seized.; by

theemouth of thepredator;r thefcombinatiorrof an anchorfmemberaadapted. .tolbe at least Ipartly buried i in z the.- ground; a` downwardiyv extending cylindrical .casingfmem-ber; a cartridge Yand 4bait holder axially-,fslidablefoff said casingl member, saidcasinggmember havingv a downwardly ex'- tending-jend portion Shaving a :downwardly tapering'jconical conguration and provided with an eyey extending; therethrough, means engageable in said' eyerfforfnon-rigidly conneotingsa-id casing with said .anchors-in' a.v universally;r swivelling relationship.I to i permit! said easing to be tipped by ftherpredatorfin any;y direction. and frneans; for limiting the :angleloftipping orsald-casingi;

4. In a; gun. trap;` forr predatcrssofl the type adapted to be anchoredfirr the: ground 4irrazsub.- stantially vertical Ipositiflnandi to be l by thei mouth 1 of the: predator; the'i combination: of anaanchorz'member:adapteditorfb'ez at .leastl partly buriedin tirez-ground; saidanehor member yconn prising a?. stalre.;` provided: with.. af laterally projeeting bracket. having:- arr. aperture; extending therethrough; .a downwardly externdingY cylindriical 'casingnnernber havingfa downwardly `extending'end' portion r. and'a'dapted to' support aW cart; ridgefand'b'ait holder; .the lolovvnwardly extending end: portiorn ofy said casing'y member; being of conicalcongurationand being" received inrsaid aperture;` andshaving an eye" extendingrthere'- through; and means@engageable'withA said eye fornonerigidly connectirrgisaid downwardly-'extending" portion with th'e: laterally projecting bracket in a universal swivelling relationship wherebyY tofpermit said casing` member to be tipped 'by the: predator 'in any' direction.

5, In gun trap" forfpred'ators' of the type adapted Ato be anchored'in' the'Y ground in a sub"- stantially vertical' position and tol be seized by tlrefmouth of thepredator, the'coinbination` of ananchor memberadaptedto be at least partly buried in the ground," saidanchor member comprising aastakefprovidedwith' a` laterally'projecting'fb'racket having an' apertureextending therethrough; a downwarcll'y-extending cylindrical casingmemherradaptedto support a cartriolgeand-r b'aitf'holder; the downwardly-'extending end-portion ofsaidcasingimember being offconical configuration. andi being'v receivedr in.v said aperturaiandhaving! an eye'extenoling therethrough, ringmeansfactuatable by an outer'pull on.. the rbait' holder, `andrmeans engageable with saidrieyeiiior nonerigidly'connecting said' downwardly=extendingfportion 'with the laterally vpro'- jecting bracket'inia universal swivelling relationshi-p" whereby toi permit .zsaidz casingv membery to be *tippedhyv thezpredatcrinany direction.. and said vmeansbeing"adaptedfto vresist upward` movement'fof vsaid:casing:whereby' to' permit actuation offth'e :flringfmeans by the.l predator.

HER'SHEY'R'OY GRAYBILL,

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